Government has justified the move taken by the immigration authorities to block former republican President Rupiah Banda from travelling to Kenya for the inauguration ceremony of Kenya’s fourth President Mr Uhuru Kenyatta. In a media statement released to the media, the Government said that the former president was late for the event anyway.
Below is the full statement.
Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services
STATEMENT BY HON. MWANSA KAPEYA, MP, DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATIO AND BROADCASTING SERVICES ON FORMER PRESIDENT RUPIAH BANDA’S TRIP TO KENYA
Government wishes to clarify reports surrounding former President Rupiah Banda’s trip to Kenya where he was scheduled to attend the inauguration of that country’s fourth President Mr Uhuru Kenyatta which took place today.
I wish to confirm that the Government Joint Investigation Team (GJIT) has been keeping Mr Rupiah Banda’s passport as part of the police bond conditions in his ongoing corruption and abuse of office cases.
When his lawyers requested for the passport, the State complied with the court order and Mr Banda was given his passport last evening to enable him travel to Kenya today to attend the inauguration of that country’s fourth President.
However, Mr Rupiah Banda was booked on Kenyan Airways Flight KQ724 which was due to depart Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 11:00hrs which is 12:00 hours East African time.
He should have arrived in Nairobi by 16:00 hours East African time. Meanwhile, the inauguration ceremony in Nairobi started at 09:30 hours East African time and ended at noon.
Clearly, Mr Rupiah Banda was late for the function way before he even stepped his foot on the plane to leave for Kenya. We wonder the motive behind his desire to fly to Kenya even when he knew too well that he was late and would have found the function long finished.
The country is aware that Mr Rupiah Banda was warned and cautioned by the GJIT for many other offences in which he is due to be arrested.
For that reason, immigration authorities at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport were within their rights to stop him from travelling if he is on the police watch list.
Hon. Mwansa Kapeya, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES
9th April, 2013
I support the current government but iyi yena te boom.Taiweme bane.
Scared little men. They would hang on to any slightest chance for an excuse. Give us a break you failed politicians
he was late for the function so why go there period flight risk…
Good that GRZ has given their excuse but still sounds suspect
RB You are not going to ascape like your son Henry you must first prove your innocence period! well done immigrations officers you are doing you job well.
Do these people in government think we are children for them to be giving as such silly lame excuses? Please don’t insult the intelligence of the citizenry.RB was scheduled to go ahead of time but you detained his passport for what? You have also insulted the judiciary.There is no law in the land now.Can we the Zambians be kindly informed who this authority above the courts is?
Ba fee ka lah.
COMMENT on KENYA. Daily Nation
There is something like a curse in Zambia. since the time they harrassed the first president and each president after that always suffers the same fate once they leave office.
Even though most of us didnt like Moi, its good that the authority did not strip him off his preveledges.
Its more healthier for a country to move on and heal other than political witch hunting.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/Banda-blocked-from-flying-to-Uhurus-inauguration/-/1066/1743586/-/13kblyr/-/index.html
The truth is the guy is before probe team and he may run away
this is rubbish, backward and retrogressive by the PF government. i just wonder wether African will ever grow…..God has have mercy….
If my daughter told me that she’s going to see a friend and I find out that the friend is not at home, and she still insists on going I would obviously raise my antennas
You were celebrating with your naked buts when you voted these F.O.OLs into power now you must enjoy them. No regards for the rule of law
In football we call this as delaying tactics, or killing time, government played RB’s mind here, they knew that the only way was delay him hence they made such arrangements for him.So bwana RB sorry you were late for this function period.
The former president was appointed as one of the monitors and I can imagine other than inauguration, someone at his level and in his capacity as election monitor could have had other business pertaining to the aftermath of the election. Believing the statements issued by the government is too hard for me to fathom. I think what they have done to him is so unfair. Well, I might also assume the information to release to passport got to them in good time and then they decided to device other means of frustrating him and stopping him from traveling. I urge government officials to be professional and not sink to such low levels of executing instructions from party cadres
Why didn’t the GJIT release RB’s passport released on Friday so that he could have travelled to Kenya on Monday afternoon at the latest?
this is a fight between the executive and the judiciary.
thats all.
@Anonymous1
So what? why did he not delegate to Jimmy Carter or Armstrong if it was that important? In any case what is observing an election process got to do with just being a spectator in an event which has has already taken place?
#2 IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD RB CAN’T EVEN THINKING OF LEAVING THE COUNTRY. SIMPLY PUT, HE CANNOT BE ALLOWED CONSIDERING THE NATURE OF HIS OFFENCE AND THE FACT THAT HE BOOKED A FLIGHT KNOWING TOO WELL THAT HE WASN’T GOING TO ATTEND THE FUNCTION DUE TO OUT OF BOUND BOOKING. THAT RAISES A LOT OF SUSPICION.
Swift thinking by the government Ala Bee has no business in Nairobi but diplomatic nansence; squealing and mourning to other leaders present at the event. The event is past now. Shameless Ala Bee now stay with your blood sucking lawyers. No more accumulating air miles!kikikiki
This is funny mwe!
The legs have been chopped….
Trick star always use tricks to get away with their issues. I doubt if this Mambala was going to come back and answer allegations. You can’t dribble your way all through. There are strong defenders there. In football that boy Messy cannot score many scores even if he is a good goal getter because he faces defenders. You will not go anywhere. First clear yourself. You must. Otherwise we suspect you want to go hiding. Your international lawyer is already spoken a lot of trash today and its all printed in that online newspaper which specialises in foul language. I do not know if what he has uttered will be helpful to you.
The government should not be vindictive, if they carry on with that approach they risk having sata refused entry or turned away, imagine a situation where ba sata was refused entry to india because of his dictatorial tendencies, and God forbid if he’s life depended on it such as medical check up? Mr president, we urge you to ease up on your diabolical ways.
It was well calculated politics by the PF government to delay the release of his passport, so that he could not make it to the function. The reasons by this Kapeya Deputy Minister are not justifiable. How many of our politicians are innocent in Zambia. Its RB today, tomorrow it will be your turn to cry foul.
@Anonymous1- you are a funny chap, your hungry dog at home the one you have never fed can also monitor elections easily!kikikiki
If the govt hasn’t brought those additional charges which they used to justify his blockage whose fault is it? Its evident this govt runs on innuendo,malice & off the books “laws” to discharge its venom.Legally speakin they defied the court’s order indirectly and must be held in contempt.
Bravo immigration officers and kudos to the GJIT. RB was about to run away just like his son Henry did. Who made the flight bookings? Were they not aware of the programme? Robert Amsterdam is not helping RB. He thinks our authorities are not aware that he is trying to get RB asylum in the SADC region by writing letters to regional heads of States and governments. If RB had gotten on that plane he was never coming back. Afterall he is half muzezulu
Mwansa do not insult our intelligence .we are not children to be given such useless statement .the pf think they are the owner of zambia.tell you what Roman Empire with some much power went on its Knees.powerfull leader like saddam where are they today.do not be cheated one day the table will turn and the measure you use against you friend will be used on you.not even in wildest dream l thought zambia will sink so low.next time zambia vote well not this thuggery you have given us.l quote from one of my friend a bird eats ant but when the bird dies the ant eats the bird.today you maybe powerful but time is the equaliser .one day we the people will triumph !!!!!!
Why was he given his passport pa Monday evening when its clear that the said event would be taking place on Tuesday morning. Simply saying that he was late for the event is not conducive enough. Are they implying that Banda deliberately launched a very late application for his passport for an event he knew he would miss? Too much drama pa Zed. It seems to me that any evidence they may have against him is very sketchy. I don’t see this being resolved soon.
this govt has officially failed. What a lame excuse! But unfortunately some people will fall for it!!!!! Pa zed, awe kukosa, they have truly taken over!!!!!!!!!! ABATUTU
It’s stupid for PF to behave like that.There are behaving as if he is guilt and yet there failing to show were the case is going.Threats threats only…atase fake gvt showing immaturity and incompetence at its highest level.
The man must be on hold, its safe for him to be around, remember the case of Attan Shasonga who trick the govt and never returned.
Thats how ABATUTU behave!!!!!!!! they are always incompetent.
Stranger than fiction. I don’t get it. Not one single bit. Without a detailed explanation of the police bond issued and terms thereof all this is just a paragraph from a ‘James Hadley Chase’ novel for those that are familiar with chase novels.
Someone did mention the ‘Executive and Judiciary’ at war or better said ‘in oblivion’ I wish you could throw some light into your train of thoughts so that we can be educated on what’s going on here.
I know that in many countries the immigration department is far removed from police departments. A guy commits a crime and police arrest him. During investigations police discover the villain is an illegal immigrant but due to it being a bail-ble (hate the phrase) offence – they let’im go. RB, drive down to DRC, pay the kabokes a bribe…
If government can break the law, is there any expectation for the people to abide by it?
People with reason and regard to the law have spoken with one voice condemning the Govt machinations. It is wrong and very “corrupt” of a Govt. but those “useful ……” like Hakainde @27 are in praise of their masters for defiling the Courts and have easily bought the bait in this ill response. Let the Law take its course and don’t shape the course the Law takes. It is RB’s international reputation that is at stake if he absconds and it is Zambia’s reputation at stake if Govt behaves in such a manner and issues such lame and baseless excuses.
A country where government disobeys court orders is called a failed State.
Some of us predicted this, that under Sata, Zambian will be turned into a failed state.
A country where government disobeys court orders is called a failed State.
Some of us predicted this, that under Sata, Zambian will be turned into a failed state
RB should just forget about traveling outside the country. He is disadvantaged by the actions of his fugitive son Henry and the hostile statements being issued by Amsterdam. Let him wait until his case of abuse of authority while in office is disposed of.
Sata will also get same treatment for abuse of authority in his tribal appointments and nepotism.
Imwe bafikala bonse who are speaking against the government mwaba ifyenu. This old thieving bastard wasnt going to come back. You have forgotten his arrogance and stupidity when he was in power? He is a selfish man and he knows he stole and he will use any innocent looking schemes to go into exile. I woke at at $am to go and cast my ballot so that justice can be served and it must be served. The memories of the insults he poured on our intelligence ( those of us who are) are still fresh. RB the time of reckoning is here. Ba PF nga baiba nabo tukatamfya nokubakaka
Former leaders many a time leave questionable backgrounds. Do not just support them. They chose to be corrupt on their own. You simple humble supporters were not there and you will never ever benefit from their loot. Elsewhere in Brazil the former leader, Lula da Silva, is facing similar cases. Sakozi of France is another character with similar allegations. Why do you blind supporters think RBB has no case to exculpate himself for? Just let him stay. Once he goes out, he may not head back. Just keep him in so that he exculpates himself.
This is good development, well calculated move by the pf, ddnt know u could scheme it this clean, whatever the reasons are, rupiah is facing charges, he is on bond, why should he be treated differently from any other zambian when he doesn’t have his immunity. Am liking pf’s intelligence for the first time, well calculated move I must say once again. Give it up. George mpombo told u ruphiah that u will dance pelete, now this is what he meant, the dance just begun, yet to see some more. Popcorns please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr B Banda was suppose to go and attend for the invitation,everyone has the right to attend where he/her is invited,now the next thing is that is not going to attend an occasion withing zambia.
retards
Mind your language ladies and gentlemen as you debate issues on this noble media that has been accorded to us by LT. Making one heard does not mean you have to disparage others. Remember that every device that is connected to the Internet is traceable to its registered owner via it’s MAC address. Freedom of speech does not mean passport to insult other people – which ofcourse the latter is a criminal offence.
Absolute RUBBISH!!! IDIOCY of the worst form. These are truely frightened little men wishing to satisfy their bruised egos. what they are afraid of only their master satan knows.
i wish sata’s plane from china could crash and kil him before reaching zambia.
@Rodwell – research your sources of information carefully. If in doubt , further your education at any earliest opportunity. Loose analysis of things is a danger to you and those closest to you. Mr Banda is a suspect of gross abuse of the highest office in the country and his bail conditions meant that his passport had o be surrendered to the state and only given back on application by his lawyers for important travel.Therefore, not everyone who is invited to an even abroad is eligible to travel as you put it.
It is so sad that even the unjustifiable nosense can pass for sense for PF and its supporters. Disobeying a court order simply means breakdown of law and order. The court ordered the re;ease of RB passport and his safe passage to kenya but these pathetic fools have their own myopic intepretation of law and due process. who is safe in this country if courts of law can be ignored at will.
I want to comment in my mother tongue Chinyanja but the messeges are not going through. Is this a tribal publication?
I find this more stupid for the government to a statement for someone they did not make plans for travel for. It is further stupid for Mwansa kapeya to even issue a press statement of matters that does not even concern his foolish government. These utterances and misplaced decision by these PATRIOTIC FOOLS will just continue isolating the country that was once a vibrant of hospitality and stability. What a nonsensical government and stupid useful *****s at the helm of power
Mr. Banda is looking for a way of running away. He will seek just a small space and thats it. If he is not a criminal why has he not allowed his son to come back. This man is so so cunning.
Banda’s bail conditions entailed him surrendering his passport. When Banda got a chance to go out of the country, Banda asked for the passport. The Court ordered the State to giveBanda the passport. The State complied and gave the passport back to Banda. Banda’s reason for wanting to go to Kenya was to witness a president’s inauguration. The State knew and Banda knew that the event would be long over by the time Banda stepped on Kenyan soil. So, what would be the point of Banda’s going there at all, or insisting to go there regardless? Very suspicious, indeed!
Well done, Immigration Department! The Government infringed no law or any court order but acted responsibly. Give credit where it is due!
Why is it so difficult to relate this development? RB is in court and on bail. Who ever invited him should not be an issue. He must be subjected to the laws of Zambia period. It does not matter where he is supposed to go or who invited him: its all immaterial to the fact that RB is in courts of law in Zambia. When he disappears, you will be the same people condemning PF for allowing RB to travel to a function that was already finished by the time he arrived. Leaders should learn from this. Remember Chiluba detained Dr. KK during the Christmas period. I ask you clever people on LT blog: Which situation is more serious? Being denied a chance to celebrate Christmas in your own country or travel to a function that is ended by the tie you arrive? Help me.
Still wonder wat stupidity this kud be to call it an excuse! This I hav not supported ba PF this so called minister or watever u call urself jst shut up other than show ur s*****
Thaksin Shinawatra was also one of Robert Amsterdam’s clients the chap also unusually gained more wealth during his term as premier for Thailand who was also being persecuted by the government. After visiting Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics, the chap did not return to Thailand to hear the final supreme court sentence and applied for asylum in the UK. Thankfully this was refused, after which he had to move about from one country to another. In October, the Thailand Supreme Court found him guilty of a conflict of interest and sentenced him in absentia to two years imprisonment.
I now thank the government for its quick thinking as the vile chap Amsterdam is already in Kenya waiting for Ala Bee. Let’s not lose sleep over these greedy *****!
Uhuru Kenyatta has been indicted by the ICC in the Hague and is facing serious charges. Rupiah Banda should not associate with such characters. Let him stay away!!
Muchinga forest rule of the jungle.
#56 kimbanguist : Uhuru Kenyatta is still innocent until proven guilty.An indictment does not mean one has been convicted. The moment you start avoiding people and then they’re cleared it is you who will look stupid and hateful.
I think bashi Mpundu needs to calm down. After the C/Wealth Conference fiasco in SA, is he surprised that people now have very little trust of what he does and says? In my humble opinion, RB could have respectfully declaimed the invitation with a very simple explanation. Simple reply:
“I am honored to be invited to this important accession even though I only played a small part in making this day possible for all Kenyans. However, I regret I cannot be with you on this important day in your country’s history. I have pressing issues requiring my total attention here at home. Thank you.”
With such a patriotic response he may gain some public trust that matters, that of Zambians! Govt would be shamed by his maturity and patriotism. But typical of RB, he can’t see beyond his nose!
YAMBA YAMBA WALIKWATA AMANO BUT RB IS STURBON IN SUCH A WAY THAT HE HAS SO MUCH DISREGARD FOR ZAMBIAN LAWS. HIS FOREIGN LAWYER IS FOOLING HIM SO MUCH SUCH THAT RB HAS FORGOTEN THAT ARMSTADAM IS ADDING SALT TO THE FRESH WOUND. ALL RB`S LAWYER IS DOING IS TO MAKE ZAMBIA AND THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT LOOK LIKE FOOLS WHO CAN NOT DO ANYTHING TO RB. AND THIS LAWYER OR LIER MAKES ME FEEL SO BAD SUCH THAT AT THE MOMENT WHENEVER I HEAR HIS NAME I JUST GET PISSED OFF WHILE AT THE SAME TIME I FEELL SO MUCH FOR RB THAT HE HAS A BAD LAWYER.
Mwansa Kapeya has started his best acts ” Ifya bukaya”.
But am sure President Lungu will reverse this, RB will be allowed to travel tomorrow to Kenya.
Mwansa Kapeya you are a fool.A big fool.This is incoherent and inconsistent.Wait for 2016 you are all going to be arrested.A taste of your own medicine.You didnt have to stop R.B from travelling.What corruption?Why dont you start with Kaunda and Sata?We know what Kaunda and Sata stole,when ,where and what just wait for 2016.Your time in court is coming Kapeya and your cronies.You are taking Zambia backwards.You morons.GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
Another circus. So who is telling the truth here? Immigration say they got instructions from higher authorities meanwhile, the minister says they acted independently. Why can’t people just be honest for once. Don’t start throwing punches from behind your subordinates. That is what a responsible government does. RB can escape without a passport if he really wanted to. Xavier did it.
Another circus. So who is telling the truth here? Immigration say they got instructions from higher authorities meanwhile, the minister says they acted independently. Why can’t people just be honest for once. Don’t start throwing punches from behind your subordinates. That is what a responsible government does. RB can escape without a passport if he really wanted to. Xavier did it.
We are watching you guys do all these circus and witch hunting, sitting very far away from you in the first world countries.
Its so very funny that you guys still behave as if you are in prehistoric age. Punitive, revengeful, big mouth, an urge to copy the First World countries without building your base and mentality. All copy cats land up in mess like you.
Best wishes for destroying a beautiful country. You will soon achieve your goals simply because you guys are full of poison against each other.
To sum-up, rule of law has been hijacked by the non elected political servants.
What is so important about a swearing-in ceremony when you have serious corruption charges. The moral of the story is that if Zambian Presidents want a stress-free retirement they should not steal.
What is so important about a swearing-in ceremony when you have serious corruption charges. The moral of the story is that if Zambian Presidents want a stress-free retirement they should not steal.
Imwe RB stole and you cant let a thief start travelling around freely.His intension was to meet Amsterdam and spin a plan to go into hiding like his son Henry.Good job PF once beaten twice shy!!
RB is famous than Satan, so ama jealous fye ba kabwa.
stupid bembas ,always against rb,people from the east lets defend our people like bembas defended chiluba.
Mutembo Nchito your time is coming. Sata will not live forever to protect you.
HON. MWANSA KAPEYA, MP, DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATIO AND BROADCASTING SERVICES, your statement invites so many questions.Please tell the nation when RB`s lawyers applied for the release of his passport? How much time did it take the custodians of RB`s passport to release it? Please tell the nation whether or not the government did not delay releasing RB`s passport? Alot of speculations in the whole thing. How efficient are the govt systems?
Are we doing this to the man because he is an Easterner. I think it is time the wise men woke up and smelled the coffee. We need soberness especially when dealing with a former head of state
What a Country
So all of you who are on Ruphia’s side are happy with the plunder he and his family inflicted on us? Perhaps you dont pay taxes so it does not matter to you. Those of us who pay need to see him and his boys locked up. Why should he even be given his passport in the 1st place. Tell me, why is Henry hidding if he is innocent? Why cant the father tell us where he is? We all know that that family was very poor before he was made veep, so let us not pretent.
Please dont explain yourselves, i’d rather he stays home than you coming to later explain after he expires into the dust just like his son, well done, he will get over it after two weeks as if it’s a broken heart.
PF should be ashamed of themselves.First,they delay in releasing RB’s Passport and lastly,when the man goes to the airport to depart,they inform junior officers to block his travel on the justification that the swearing in ceremony is over.This is the most stupid statement any retard government can issue to justify their hate for RB.The court in releasing RB on bail did not say he should be reporting to police at regular intervals nor did the court deny him permission to travel out of the country.Sata will harvest these fruits he is currently nursing.
Good move GRZ,his travelling would not have made sense. The man would not have come back
1. RB has not been proven guilty so let us not use our typical Zambian ways and say he is. Let the facts speak for themselves.
2. The ISSUE is why did the immigration officers defy the judicial instructions? isn’t that breaking the same law we all abide to? if every single blogger was in court and was harassed by this same injustice wouldn’t they be crying foul. This is the case; why has the PF govt decided to be above the court of law.
3. As mentioned above, if RB really wanted to run away he can flee without one (Passport), it is easier to find you if you use one.
Let us stray from this backward thought of an excuse that he wanted to run away and look at the more pressing issues,
IF PF CAN BE ABOVE THE LAW ON THIS ISSUE WHAT NEXT?? YOUR TAXES?
THINK WISELY
I foreone support our immigration officers some clever people said like father like son .People let us not forget so easily one of his son is still at large.
If you want a stress free retirement ,do not steal period.We warned you RB and you thought you were wamuyayaya.
chi #47 waba amasaw kwati ni mbushi.go back you will find your father is dead
@ 70 Sober, do you recall that Chiluba was defended by his fellow thieving and conniving RB from the East? Most tax payers wanted Chilubas’ balls and arse toasted for plunder. RB wants to pull a quick one, but PF is just too fast for him. GRZ sent OP ahead of him to Kenya and as soon as Amsterdam was spotted, RB was going no where. It is our tax money back or Chimbokaila, nowhere else.
Supporters of RB should start asking the old man to start surrendering our money because Sata is not doing the RB-Chiluba stint.